Palestinians in Israeli jails could begin 'mass disobedience': prisoners' body chief

Palestinians held in Israeli jails could begin "mass disobedience" against authorities, the leader of a prisoners' body has said.

Qadri Abu Baker, chief of the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees' Affairs, said dozens of Palestinians are currently in solitary confinement.

Among them are 11 detainees connected to the 2021 Gilboa jailbreak, in which six men escaped from prison before eventually being captured.

Abu Baker added that Ahmed Manasra - who was first detained as a 13-year-old and is mentally ill due to his incarceration - has also spent more than a year in isolation.

His solitary confinement was extended in November until at least March 2023.

"The upcoming stage may be difficult, and the prisoners may resort to mass disobedience," Abu Baker told Palestinian paper Al-Quds, saying detainees could die or be injured.

The official said Israeli authorities' use of solitary confinement and moving detainees between jails is an attempt to unsettle and cause them discomfort.

Abu Baker said those who fail to submit to being sent to another prison face solitary confinement or other punishments and there could be a serious escalation in Israeli jails if authorities take additional actions against Palestinian detainees.

It comes as jailed Palestinians belonging to the Fatah movement announced a "general alert" on Monday, The Jerusalem Post reported.

There are currently 4,700 Palestinians detained by Israel, according to December figures from prisoners' rights group Addameer.